Ex-Bear Chris Zorich Named Athletic Director At Chicago State

CHICAGO, IL - Chris Zorich, a leader on the Chicago Bears defense during the 1990s, is back in a leadership role in the city. This time it's as the new director of athletics for Chicago State University. Officials at Chicago State announced Tuesday they have named Zorich, who was most recently the athletic director at Prairie State College in Chicago Heights, to the position.

“The main motivation for taking this job is that I see Chicago State as a hidden gem,” said Zorich, who played for the Bears from 1991-1996 and for the Washington Redskins during the 1997 NFL season. “I’m honored to become a part of the CSU family."

Zorich has held numerous leadership roles since retiring from the NFL, according to a news release from CSU. Most recently, he managed Prairie State's NJCAA Division I and II sponsored sports teams and "fostered initiatives for raising academic requirements while improving win-loss percentages."

Now, he moves to Chicago State. The school at 9501 S. King Dr. near the city's Roseland neighborhood boasts 13 sports teams, but no football team.

A graduate of Chicago Vocational Academy (formerly CVS), Zorich played football at the University of Notre Dame before he was drafted by the Bears. He says he'll bring resources together from places like Notre Dame to "help create a culture that will produce student-athletes who are encouraged to always do their best and to define success" at Chicago State.

He will begin in the new role on May 8.

Photo via Prairie State College